Fuel feeding device for locomotives or the like



arMW 0.2: v Wazoo/dual,

E M WILCOX ET AL 2,109,242

FUEL FEEDING DEVICE FOR LOCOMOTIVES OR THE. LIKE Flled June 22, 1935 Z SheetS-Sheeb 1 Feb. 22, 1938.

Feb. 22, 1938. E. M. WILCOX ET AL 2,109,242 FUEL FEEDING DEVICE FOR LOCOMOTIVES OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1935 Q? m5 1 A. f 9%. 1 I

Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES .FUEL FEEDING DEVICE FOR LOCOMOTIVES OR THE LIKE 1 1 Edgar M. Wilcox, Chicago, Ill., and

Stockwell, Elkhart, Ind.

Application June 22,

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to fuel feeding devices, and more in particular to fuel feeding devices for locomotive tenders.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel fuel feeding device adapted to be installed in locomotive tenders.

Locomotive tenders, as is well-known, serve as fuel storage means and are connected immediately to the rear of the locomotives whereby the fuel may be fed to the locomotive boilers, as desired, during a run between various points. In the more advanced types of locomotive tenders, the fuel is not conveyed to the locomotive boilers manually, but on the other hand, by stokers which feed the fuel, such as coal or the like, forwardly to the locomotive boilers. These locomotive tenders are provided with a rear slope sheet, the intended function of which is to prevent accumulation of coal at the rear of the bin and to provide a downwardly inclined surface over which the last remaining portions of the coal supply will gradually and progressively move forward to be picked up and moved by the conveyor to the locomotive boiler. It has been found, however, that such rear slope sheets retain a substantial quantity of the coal banked against them, vand this coal, which might otherwise be used for fuel purposes to increase the length of run for the locomotive, remains on the slope sheet and upon refueling continues to remain as a dead weight and is never consumed as fuel. The coal is therefore transported from place to place, which increases operating costs.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide novel means adapted to remove the fuel banked against the rear slope sheets of locomotive tenders whereby this fuel may be used to increase the distance that the locomotives may operate without refueling. I

More particularly, the present invention has as an object the idea of providing a novel fuel pushing means which may be used in conjunction with a stoker to feed the fuel forwardly to the locomotive boiler.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel fuel pushing means adapted to progressively move in either of two directions and which is operated with the stoker from a common source of power. I

Another object within the purview of the present invention is to provide such a novel fuel pushing means above the rear slope sheet of the locomotive tender which is movable thereover,

as desired from a source of power used for driv- Alexander 1935, Serial No. 27,996

ing the stoker mechanism of the locomotive tender. I

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel driving means for the fuel pusher which is controlled automatically by the pusher.

The present invention also contemplates the idea of providing a common drive for a stoker and fuel pusher in a locomotive tender, the drive for the pusher being manually controlled from the front of the, tender and disconnected automatically by the fuel pusher.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary top plan view of a locomotive tender incorporating the fuel feed ing device made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross-section taken in the plane represented by line 2 2 of Figure 1 of the drawings; and

Figure ,3 is a fragmentary view in cross-section taken in a plane represented by line 3-3 of Figure 1 of the drawings. Referring now more in detail to the drawings, an embodiment of a fuel feeding device made in accordance with the present invention is shown as comprising a stoker 2 and a fuel pusher 4, the same being incorporated in a locomotive tender 6. As is wellknown, the locomotive tender 6 serves as a fuel bin immediatelyto the rear of the locomotive and includes a floor ,-8 and a rear slope sheet III which is provided with angle irons II and I3 for guiding the fuel pusher during its movement over the surface of the slope sheet. The floor 3 is formed in part by the stationary floor pieces l2 and I4 and disposed therebetween are removable floor pieces l6, I8, etc., these floor pieces being disposed immediately above a, screw type conveyor [9 operable within a fuel conduit 20 in communication with the fuel bin. This screw type conveyor is adapted to advance the fuel forwardly to the locomotive boiler, as desired. Initially when the tender is filled with coal, the most forwardly disposed floor piece is removed in order that the fuel may drop by gravity into the fuel conduit where it is engaged by the screw type conveyor to be fed to thelocomotive boiler. As the coal is consumed, the floor pieces such as .I6 and I8 are progressively removed in. order that sufficient coal may be fed to the conveyor without manual handling.

Such a conveyor as above described may be operated by an auxiliary stoker engine 2I disposed in the locomotive tender, as shown, or in the locomotive if desired, this engine being suitably coupled to and driving a shaft 22 extending rearwardly from the front of the tender, this shaft being coupled through the universal joint 24 to a shaft 26 ofa gear housing 28, which gear housing includessuitable gears for rotating the conveyor.

Although the rear slope sheet of the locomotive tender is inclined to permit forward movement of fuel, such as coal or the like, nevertheless coal which is banked against and upon the same does not move forwardly .to a position where it is picked up by' the conveyor and fed to the locomotive boiler without manual handling. The present invention, however, contemplates the use of the pusher 4 for moving the coal forwardly whereby the same is picked up by the conveyor to'be conveyed forwardly to the locomotive boiler. This pusher means comprises a pusher member 30 of the general shape disclosed in Figure 1 of the drawings, the same including a'centr'al body portion 32 and laterally extending arms 84 and 36. The central body portion and arms" are provided with the forward pushing surface" disposed substantially normal tothe plane of the rear slope sheet I0 for pushing the coal forwardly and downwardly. These parts of the pusher member are also formed with the rearwardly disposed knife edges '40 and 42whereby the pusher maybe moved upwardly through the'coal lodged against the slope sheet, as will be described more in detail hereinafter.

The present invention contemplates the idea of operating the pusher-member by the driving means which operates the stoker. As disclosed in thedrawings, the pusher driving means includes a shaft 48 substantially in alignment with shaft and driven thereby. If desired, shaft 48 may be integral with shaft 26 or secured to a gear in the gear box'28 which-is driven by shaft 26 and is mounted at its rear end in the bearing 50 secured to the frame member 52 of the tender. Mounted upon the shaft 48 is a clutch member 54'having a plurality of teeth disposed on each end thereo'fythis clutch member being splin'ed to the shaft whereby the same is rotated thereby and may be moved axially with respect thereto. Rotatably mounted upon the shaft 48 and adjacent but in spaced relation to the ends of the clutch-member 54 are bevel gears 56 and 58, each of which has a hub provided with projectin'gjte'eth engageable by the clutch -member 5E.

Meshing with the gears 56 and 58 is a bevel gear '60- mounted upon the shaft 62 which is journal'ed for rotation in the bracket 66 secured to the frame member 52 of the tender. Secured to the shaft 6-2 adjacent'the top and bottom of the bracket 66 are thrust collars 64, and mounted upon the upper end of shaft 62 is a bevel gear 68 meshing with another bevel gear I0, which bevel gear'is fixed to a shaft I2 extending longitudinally below the slope sheet I0.: This shaft 12 is .mounted'for f rotation at its lower end adjacent the junction or intersection 'of the slope sheet I0 with the iloor 8, in a bearing 14 between which-and the gear "I0 is a thrust collaz- I'I.'- :At its upper end the shaft l2has a univers'al connection I6 for connecting the same to a stub shaft I8, which stub shaft is journaled in the bearing secured to the lower face of the slopersheetb Mounted upon the upper end of the stub shaft I8 is a bevel gear 82 meshing with bevel gear 84 mounted upon shaft 86 which is journaled in a bracket 88 secured to the underside of the slope sheet I0. This shaft 88 has a spur gear 90 secured to an end thereof, which is adapted to extend through an opening 92 formed adjacent the upper end of the slope sheet I0 and mesh with a rack 94 disposed within the housing 96 secured to the slope sheet adjacent the slot or opening 92 thereof. The rack 94 has its lower end pivotally connected as at 98 to the central body portion of the pusher member.

As disclosed in Figure 2 of the drawings, the clutch member 54 is disposed in its neutral position out of engagement with teeth on the gears 56 and 58, and when it is desired to move the pusher member upwardly from its lowermost position, the clutch member 54 may be moved into engagement with-the gear 58 whereby the drive for the pusher member is through shaft 48, gears 58, 60, 68 and I0, for driving the shaft I2 and its associated mechanism. Movement of the clutch member 54 is effected by a rod I00 connected at one end to a collar I02 embracing the clutch member 54 and at its other end to the lower end of operating handle I04 pivotally mounted as at I06 in a bracket I08 secured to a wall of the locomotive tender adjacent its forward end. Upon interengagement of clutch member 54 and gear 58, pusher member will move' upwardly whereby the knife edges 40 and 42 thereof cut through the coal to loosen the same, whereupon this loosened coal is more easily moved downwardly over the surface of the slope sheet to the conveyor upon downward movement of the pusher. It is of course understood that aft er the pusher member has reached its upper limit, the clutch member 54 and gear 58 are disengaged whereby the pusher member remains stationary. When it is desired to move the pusher member downwardly, handle I04 may be operated to effect an engagement between clutch member 54 and gear 56 whereby the pusher member is moved in a reverse direction. Although I have described the pusher member as moving within certain limits over the slope sheet upon engagement of the clutch member 54 with gears 56 and 58, it is to be understood that the movement of the pusher member either upwardly or downwardly may be controlled by manual operation of the handle or lever I04.

The present invention also provides means for moving the clutch member 54 into a neutral position when the pusher member has reached either its upper or lower limit of travel. Such means includes levers H0 and H2 pivotally mounted, respectively, on brackets H4 and H6 secured to and depending from the underside of the slope sheet I0. These levers extend upwardly through suitable slots H8 and I20, respectively, provided in the slope sheet and have their upper ends disposed in the path of movement of the pusher member. The lower ends of these levers are pivotally connected to the rod I22 which has its lower end pivotally connected to one arm of a bell crank lever I24 which is pivotally mounted in a bracket I26 secured to the floor 8. The other arm of the bell crank lever is pivotally connected to a rod I28 disposed substantially parallel to rod I00 and has its other end connected to the operating handle I04 in spaced relation but adjacent the connection of rod I00 thereto.

As disclosed in Figure 2 of the drawings, the

pusher member is disclosed as having reached its lower limit of travel. As the pusher member approaches its lower limit of travel, lever H0 is engaged thereby whereby rod I22 is moved upwardly to move rod I28 to the right through the bell crank lever I24. This movement to the right of rod I28 causes a similar movement of rod I00 through operating handle I04 whereby a disengagement between clutch member 54 and gear 56 is effected. Inasmuch as clutch member 54 is in its neutral position, continued rotation of the stoker driving mechanism is ineffective to operate the pusher mechanism. When it is desired to move the pusher member upwardly, operating lever I04 is manually operated to effect an interengagement between clutch member 54 and gear 58, which engagement is maintained until lever arm II 2 is engaged by the pusher member. Such an engagement causes movement of rod I28 from right to left through rod I22 and bell crank lever I24 and through rod I00 the clutch 54 is moved to the left into its neutral position.

It will therefore be clearly apparent that provision is made for continued operation of the stoker mechanism as desired without operation of the pusher mechanism. It is also to be understood that although the pusher mechanism in the present embodiment is disclosed as being operated through shaft 48 in alignment with shaft 22 from the auxiliary stoker engine, such pusher mechanism, if desired, may be operated by the shaft for the screw type conveyor. It will also be appreciated that the relative rate of speed of the conveyor and pusher member may be controlled, as desired, by the proper selection of gears in gear box 28 and driving the pusher from either the high or low side thereof, as well as by selecting proper gears in the pusher drive itself.

While we have herein described and upon the drawings shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions, arrangements of parts, details and features without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a stoker conveyor system for transferring fuel from a tender toa locomotive, the combination of a locomotive tender connected to said locomotive and having a fuel storage bin provided with a rear slope sheet, a stoker for transferring fuel from said bin to said locomotive, a reciprocating fuel pusher mounted for movement with respect to the surface of said slope sheet for transferring fuel disposed thereon toward said stoker, a stoker engine, a drive extending from said stoker engine, means connected to said drive for operating said stoker, means connected to said drive'for operating said fuel pusher, clutch means in said last-named means for controlling said fuel pusher, and means operated by the operation of said fuel pusher operating means at the ends of the pusher stroke for controlling the operation of said clutch means for stopping the movement of said fuel pusher.

2. In a stoker conveyor system for transferring fuel from. a tender to a locomotive, the combination of a locomotive, a locomotive tender connected to said locomotive and having a fuel storage bin provided with a rear slope sheet, a stoker for transferring fuel from said bin to said locomotive, a reciprocating fuel pusher mounted for movement over the surface of said slope sheet for transferring fuel disposed thereon toward said stoker, means for operating said stoker and said fuel pusher, said last-named means having clutch means for controlling said fuel pusher, and automatic means operated at the ends of the pusher stroke for controlling the operation of said clutch means for stopping the movement of said fuel pusher.

3. In a stoker conveyor system for transferring fuel from a tender to a locomotive, the combination of a locomotive tender connected to said 10- comotive and having a fuel storage bin provided with a rear slope sheet, a stoker for transferring fuel from said bin to said locomotive, a reciprocating fuel pusher mounted for movement over the surface of said slope sheet for transferring fuel disposed thereon toward said stoker, a stoker engine, means driven by said stoker engine for operating said stoker and said fuel pusher, said last-named means having clutchmeans for controlling said fuel pusher, and automatic means operated at the ends of the pusher stroke for controlling the operation of said clutch means for stopping the movement of said fuel pusher.

4. In a locomotive tender, the combination of a fuel storage bin provided with a rear slope sheet, a reciprocating fuel pusher mounted for movement with respect to the surface of said slope sheet for moving fuel away from said slope sheet, a stoker engine, means driven by said stoker engine for operating said fuel pusher, said means having clutch means for controlling said fuel pusher, and means operated by the operation of said fuel pusher operating means at the ends of the pusher stroke for controlling the operation of said clutch means for stopping the movement of said fuel pusher.

5. In a locomotive tender, the combination of a fuel storage bin provided with a rear slope sheet, a reciprocating fuel pusher mounted for movement over the surface of said slope sheet for moving fuel toward the forward end of said bin, means for operating said fuel pusher, said lastnamed means having clutch means for controlling said fuel pusher, and automatic means operated at the ends of the pusher stroke for controlling the operation of said clutch means for stopping the movement of said fuel pusher.

6. In a locomotive tender, the combination of a fuel storage bin provided with a rear slope sheet, a reciprocating fuel pusher mounted for movement with respect to the surface of said slope sheet for moving fuel away from said slope sheet, a stoker engine, means driven by said stoker engine for operating said fuel pusher, said means having clutch means for controlling said fuel pusher, and automatic means operated at the ends of the pusher stroke for controlling the operation of said clutch means for stopping the movement of said fuel pusher.

EDGAR M. VVILCOX. ALEXANDER M. STOCKWEIL. 

